Folding handle assembly for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A handle assembly that pivotally mounts a handle adjacent to an opening of a vehicle includes a bracket and an end portion or cap portion of a handle. The end portion and bracket engage one another to substantially secure the handle in either an in use position or a storage position. The end portion and bracket include projections and correspondingly formed recesses that engage one another to limit or substantially preclude pivotal movement of the handle without first raising the handle to disengage the handle and cap portion from the bracket. The handle assembly may include an illumination source to provide illumination of the handle in low lighting conditions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to assist handles or rails forrecreational vehicles and the like and, more particularly, to a foldaway assist handle or rail assembly which is mountable to a side of arecreational vehicle or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fold away assist rails or handles are known or are mountable to a sideof a recreational vehicle or the like via securing brackets to thevehicle with suitable fasteners. The handle or railing is foldablebetween a stored position, where the handle is positioned generallyalong a side of the vehicle, and an in use position, where the handleextends outwardly from the vehicle for a person to grasp the handle asthey are entering or leaving the recreational vehicle. The handle ispivotally mounted to a pair of brackets via a pivot pin at each end ofthe handle. The brackets are mounted to or installed at the side of thevehicle. Typically, the brackets are biased toward the storage or in useposition via a spring biasing the handle into a receiving channel of thebracket. The handle or rail is typically a cylindrical shaped or tubularshaped rail and rests partially within a semi-cylindrical channel in thebracket and is biased or urged toward the recess or channel via thespring. Because the handle is generally cylindrical, the portions of thehandle that engage the channel are curved and thus allow the handle toraise upward along the sides of the channels when the handle is pushedtoward one side or the other relative to the brackets. The handles thusmay be inadvertently moved or pushed out of their in use position totheir stored position, such as if a person leans against the handles orthe like.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a handle assembly thatovercomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a handle assembly for a vehicle, such asa recreational vehicle or the like, that provides a positive stop orlock to positively retain the handrail or handle in either a storage orstored position, where the handrail is positioned along the side of thevehicle, or an in use position, where the handrail extends outward fromthe vehicle for a user to grasp while entering or exiting the vehicle.The present invention may also provide an illumination source at thehandle to illuminate the handle or handrail to assist a person in seeingand using the handrail in darkened conditions, such as night timeconditions or the like.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a handle assembly formounting to a surface of a vehicle includes a handrail and a bracket.The handrail is formed of a tubular member and has a curved crosssection. The handrail has an end cap that is joined with the tubularmember and that is selectively engagable with the bracket in first andsecond positions relative to the bracket. The handrail is selectivelymovable to disengage the end cap from the bracket and is pivotable whenthe end cap is disengaged from the bracket to move the end cap betweenthe first position, where the handrail is positioned along the surfaceof the vehicle, and the second position, where the handrail extendsoutward from the surface of the vehicle. The end cap limits pivotalmovement of the handrail when the end cap is engaged with the bracketand the handrail is substantially positively fixed or retained in thefirst or second position relative to the bracket when the end cap isengaged with the bracket.

The end cap of the handrail may include at least one projection forengaging at least one recess of the bracket. The projection may have atleast one wall for engaging a corresponding wall of the recess of thebracket, such that the walls engage one another to substantiallypositively retain the end cap relative to the bracket in the first orsecond position. The walls may be generally parallel to the pivot axisof the handrail to limit pivotal movement of the handrail when the wallsare engaged. The handrail may be raisable or movable along the pivotaxis relative to the bracket to disengage the projection from the recessand may be pivotable about the pivot axis between the first and secondpositions when the handrail is raised or moved along the pivot axis andthe projection is disengaged from the recess. The handle assembly mayinclude a pivot pin extending at least partially through the bracket andthe end cap and defining the generally vertical pivot axis. The handleassembly may include a biasing member along the pivot pin that biasesthe end cap toward engagement with the bracket and that biases or urgesthe projection into engagement with the recess.

Optionally, the handle assembly may include at least one illuminationsource that is operable to illuminate at least a portion of the handleassembly. The illumination source may be positioned at the bracket andmay be operable to direct illumination through a transparent orpartially transparent panel of the bracket.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a handle assemblyfor mounting to a surface of a vehicle includes a handrail and abracket. The handrail has an end portion that has a first engaging faceand the bracket has a second engaging face. The handrail is pivotablerelative to the bracket about a pivot axis. The first and secondengaging faces are selectively engagable in first and second positions.The handrail is selectively movable to disengage the first engaging facefrom the second engaging face and is pivotable about the pivot axis whenthe first and second engaging faces are disengaged to move the handrailbetween the first position, where the handrail is positioned along thesurface of the vehicle, and the second position, where the handrailextends outward from the surface of the vehicle. The first and secondengaging faces are generally parallel to the pivot axis to substantiallypositively retain the handrail relative to the bracket when the engagingfaces are engaged.

One of the end portion and the bracket may comprise at least oneprojection and the other of the end portion and the bracket may compriseat least one recess for receiving the at least one projection. Theprojection and the recess may comprise the engaging faces. The handrailmay be raisable to disengage the projection from the recess. The handleassembly may include a biasing member that biases the end portion towardengagement with the bracket.

Therefore, the handle assembly of the present invention provides apositive stop or locking mechanism to substantially positively retainthe handrail in either the storage position or in use position relativeto the bracket affixed to the wall of the vehicle. The handle assemblyof the present invention thus limits or substantially precludesinadvertent movement of the handrail from one position to the other. Inorder to move the handle to the in use or to the storage position, thehandrail may be raised upward or otherwise moved along its pivot axis todisengage the end of the handrail from the bracket. If the handrail ispushed sideways without such raising or movement, the handrail andbracket function to limit or substantially preclude pivotal movement ofthe handrail relative to the bracket. Also, the handle assembly mayinclude a light or illumination source to provide illumination to thehandrail to assist a person in using the handrail in darkenedconditions.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the handle assembly mounted at the sideof a vehicle in accordance with the present invention, with the handrailin its in use position and extending outward from the side of thevehicle;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the vehicle of FIG. 1, with the handrailin its storage position and folded alongside the vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an end of the handrail and a bracketassembly of the handle assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view of the end of the handrail of thehandle assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the end of the handrail and bracket, takenalong the line VI—VI in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the end of the handrail and bracket, takenalong the line VII—VII in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an end of a handrail and a bracket ofanother handle assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the end of the handrail andbracket of FIG. 8, with the cover to the bracket being opened;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the end of the handrail and bracket,taken along the line X—X in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the handle assembly, shown withthe bracket cover opened similar to FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of another handle assembly inaccordance with the present invention, showing the bracket and endportion of a handrail;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinge of the bracket ofFIG. 12 and

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of another handle assembly inaccordance with the present invention, with the projections on the capportion and the recesses on the housing portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiment depictedtherein, a fold away handrail or handle assembly 10 is mountable to aside or surface of a vehicle 12 adjacent to a door other opening 12 a inthe vehicle 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The handle assembly 10 includes a pairof brackets 14 and a handrail or handle 16 pivotally mounted at each end16 a to brackets 14. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, handle 16 isselectively pivotable between an in use position (FIG. 1) where thehandle extends outwardly from the side of the vehicle for a person tograsp and use while exiting or entering the vehicle, and a fold away orstored position (FIG. 2), where the handle is folded along the side ofthe vehicle when it is not in use. The ends 16 a of handle 16 positivelyengage brackets 14 to positively retain the handle in either the in useposition or the stored position, and limit or substantially precludeinadvertent moving or pivoting of the handle to the other position, asdiscussed below.

Handle 16 is curved and may include an end portion or cap portion or endcap 18 at each end 16 a. Each cap portion 18 is pivotally mounted to arespective bracket 14 to pivotally mount the handle to the brackets. Capportion 18 may comprise a plastic or polymeric material and may bejoined or attached to the respective end of handle 16. As shown in FIGS.6 and 7, cap portion 18 may be retained to the bracket via a pivot pinor fastener 20. Pivot pin 20 extends through cap portion 18 and throughthe end portion 16 a of handle 16 and, thus, may retain or secure capportion 18 at end portions 16 a of handle 16. As can be seen in FIG. 5,cap portion 18 includes a base portion 22 that includes an opening 22 afor receiving fastener 20 therethrough and a plurality of receivingportions or recesses 22 b, such as at the corners of base portion 22.Recesses 22 b receive correspondingly formed projections 24 of bracket14 to positively retain the handle 16 in the storage or in use position,as discussed below.

As shown in FIG. 4, each bracket 14 may include a housing 15 with aplurality of projections 24 extending upwardly from an upper end orsurface 15 a of housing 15. Housing 15 may comprise a plastic orpolymeric material and may be unitarily molded housing. Projections 24may be correspondingly formed with recesses 22 b to fit within recesses22 b and limit lateral or pivotal movement of recesses 22 b and handle16 relative to projections 24 and bracket 14. In the illustratedembodiment, projections 24 include generally flat faces or walls 24 afor engaging corresponding generally flat walls 22 c of recesses 22 b incap portion 18 of handle 16. The walls or faces are arranged to begenerally parallel to the pivot axis 20 a, such that the walls limit orsubstantially preclude pivotal movement of handrails 16 about pivot axis20 a when the walls are engaged. The flat walls or faces 24 a and 22 cengage or oppose one another and thus function to limit or substantiallypreclude pivotal movement of cap portion 18 (and thus handle 16) aboutpivot pin 20 relative to bracket 14, unless cap portion 18 is lifted upor raised or otherwise moved along the pivot axis 20 a relative tobracket 14 to disengage the projections 24 from recesses 22 b, asdiscussed below.

The upper portion of bracket 14 may also include an opening 26therethrough for receiving pivot pin 20. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,pivot pin or bolt 20 may extend through end 16 a of handle 16 andthrough cap portion 18 and through the upper portion 15 a of brackethousing 15 into a cavity 15 b defined by and within the housing 15 ofbracket 14. Handle assembly 10 may include a biasing member or spring 28positioned along pivot pin 20. Biasing member 28 may engage the upperportion 15 a of the housing 15 of bracket 14 with one end, and afastener or nut 30 or the like on pivot pin 20 with the other end, inorder to provide or exert a downward force on pivot pin 20 to bias orurge the cap portion 18 downward and into engagement with projections 24of bracket 14. As also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, bracket housing 15 may besecured to the side walls of the vehicle 12 via a pair of fasteners 32,such as bolts, screws or the like, to mount the handle assembly to thevehicle.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, housing portion 15 includes a frontcover plate or cover portion 15 c. Cover plate 15 c may be removably ordetachedly mounted to housing 15 or may be pivotally or hingedlyattached to housing 15. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, coverplate 15 c is integrally formed with the housing portion 15, and maypivot between an opened and closed position about a living hinge 15 d orthe like. Cover plate 15 c may be opened or removed to provide access tofasteners 32 for securing bracket 14 to the side walls of the vehicle12. As can be seen in FIG. 7, fasteners 32 may be readily accessiblewhen cover plate 15 c is opened, even with handle 16 attached to bracket14 via pivot pin 20. Although shown as having a living hinge or moldedhinge 15 d pivotally connecting the cover plate 15 c to the housing 15of the bracket 14, other hinge mechanisms or connections may beimplemented, without affecting the scope of the present invention. Forexample, the cover plate may snap onto and be removable or detachablefrom the housing of the bracket, or may have a pivot pin connecting thecover plate to the bracket housing (such as discussed below with respectto FIGS. 12 and 13), or any other means for movably or detachablyconnecting or mounting the cover plate to the bracket, without affectingthe scope of the present invention.

Optionally, handle assembly 10 may include an illumination source 34,such as an incandescent bulb or light emitting diode or the like,positioned within housing 15 of bracket 14 and operable to provideillumination to at least a portion of the handle 16 to assist the userin seeing and using the handle in darkened or night time lightingconditions. In the illustrated embodiment, illumination source 34 may bepositioned at a rear or inner wall 15 e of housing 15 that is generallypositioned against the side wall of the vehicle 12 when bracket 14 ismounted to the vehicle 12. The illumination source 34 may connectdirectly to an electrical system or power source of the vehicle, or maybe battery operated or otherwise powered to selectively or continuouslyprovide illumination to the handle, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention. A transparent or semi-transparent panel 36 may beprovided at housing 15, such as at cover plates 15 c, to allow theillumination from illumination source 34 to be projected outward frombracket 14 and at or generally toward handle 16.

The illumination source may be selectively operable to provideillumination when desired, such as when the light levels around thehandle assembly darken, or when the handle assembly is moved to its inuse position, or any other situation where illumination may be desired.The illumination source may be manually activated and/or deactivated ormay be automatically activated and/or deactivated in response to thesurrounding light levels or position of the handle or the like, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention.

The panel 36 may be generally transparent or may be formed to provide animage 36 a, such as an icon or logo or indicia or character or text thatmay be backlit by illumination source 34 when the illumination source 34is activated. The handle assembly of the present invention thus mayprovide a backlit image that may correspond with or be indicative of themanufacturer of the vehicle that the handle assembly is installed on, orthat may convey other indicia or information. For example, a particularpanel may be selected and attached to or snapped into the cover plate 15c to provide the appropriate icon or logo or the like that correspondsto the respective vehicle that the handle assembly is mounted to. Thehandle assembly thus may be customized for a particular vehicle or mayotherwise be customized to provide other backlit indicia or iconisticdisplay or image, as may be desired for the particular application ofthe handle assembly.

Accordingly, when handle assembly 10 is mounted to the vehicle 12,handle 16 and cap portions 18 may be selectively pivoted relative tobracket 14, and may be substantially secured or retained in either thestorage or in use position via engagement of projections 24 of brackets14 and recesses 22 b of cap portions 18. The flat walls of theprojections and recesses are generally or substantially parallel to thepivot axis and thus function to limit and substantially preclude pivotalmovement of cap portion 18 relative to bracket 14 when projections 24are engaged with recesses 22 b. In the illustrated embodiment, the wallsor faces are generally vertical and the pivot pin is generally vertical,such that the handrail may be raised generally vertically or otherwisemoved along the pivot axis to disengage the projections from therecesses. However, the faces and pivot pin may be otherwise arranged,without affecting the scope of the present invention. Because theengaging faces are oriented generally parallel to the pivot axis,pivotal movement of the handrail about the pivot axis is substantiallyprecluded when the faces are engaged. Pushing laterally against thehandrail thus does not result in the face of the handrail riding upwardtoward disengagement from the face of the bracket, such as may occurwith the cylindrical surfaces of known handle assemblies. Thus, in orderto pivot handle 16 from one position to the other, handle 16 must beraised upwardly or otherwise moved along the pivot axis to disengage therecesses 22 b of cap portions 18 from the projections 24 of brackets 14.Once the handle has been pivoted to the desired location, biasing memberor spring 28 functions to bias or urge the cap portions 18 and recesses22 b downward into engagement with the projections 24 to substantiallylock or retain the handle in the desired position. The handle assemblyof the present invention thus substantially precludes inadvertentpivoting or moving of the handle relative to the brackets, such thatwhen the handle is positioned in the in use position, a person may graspthe handle and may even lean against the handle, while the handleremains secured or retained in its in use position.

Although shown as having the projections protruding upward from thebracket and the recesses recessed within the cap portion of the handle,clearly the cap portion may include such projections, while the upperportion of the bracket may include the recesses, without affecting thescope of the present invention. For example, and with reference to FIG.14, a handrail assembly 210′ may include projections 224′ projectingfrom a cap portion 218′ for engaging recesses 222′ of a housing portion215′. Also, although shown as having four such projections and recesses,other numbers or shapes or forms of recesses and projections may beprovided at either the cap portion and/or bracket, without affecting thescope of the present invention. For example, it is envisioned that asingle, centrally located and non-circular projection may extend fromthe cap portion or bracket, while a single correspondingly formed andlocated recess may be formed in the bracket or cap portion to limitpivotal movement of the handle while the projection is engaged in therecess. The shape of the projection and recess may be selected toprovide a desired amount of rotation or pivotal movement of the handlebetween locked positions. For example, the projection and recess may begenerally square-shaped to provide approximately a 90 degree pivot rangebetween the in use position and the storage position. Other shapes maybe implemented to provide other pivotal ranges without affecting thescope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 8–11, another handle assembly 110 in accordancewith the present invention is shown and includes a handle 116, a capportion 118 and a bracket 114, similar to handle assembly 10 discussedabove. Handle assembly 110 is substantially similar to handle assembly10 discussed above, such that a detailed description of the handleassembly will not be repeated herein. Suffice it to say that cap portion118 includes a projection or recess (not shown in FIGS. 8–11) thatengages a correspondingly formed recess or projection (also not shown inFIGS. 8–11) in an upper portion of bracket 114, similar to theprojections and recesses discussed above. However, and as can be seen inFIGS. 9 and 11, bracket 114 includes a cover plate 115 c that extendspartially around the sides of the bracket housing 115, such that theprojections or recesses of the upper portion of the bracket may bepositioned toward the rear of the bracket, and may not be included atthe outer or front portion of the bracket where the cover plate 115 c islocated. Cap portion 118 may still include the projections or recessesat each of the corners of the base portion 122 of cap portion 118 forengaging the recesses or projections of bracket 114 in differentpositions of the cap portion 118 relative to bracket 114. Components ofhandle assembly 110 that are similar or common with the correspondingcomponents of handle assembly 10, discussed above, are shown in FIGS.8–11 with similar reference numbers as in FIGS. 1–7, but with 100 addedto each of the reference numbers.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, another bracket assembly 210 is shownthat is substantially similar to bracket assemblies 10, 110. Becausebracket assembly 210 is substantially similar to bracket assembly 110and bracket assembly 10, discussed above, a detailed discussion of thebracket assemblies will not be repeated herein. The components ofbracket assembly 210 that are similar or common to the components of thepreviously discussed bracket assemblies are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13with similar reference numbers to those of FIGS. 1–11, but with 200added to the reference numerals. As can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, thecover plate 215 c of housing 215 is hingedly secured or mounted to thehousing 215 of bracket 214. Housing 15 a 215 of bracket 214 includes apair of hinge members or tabs 217 a extending from a bottom portion ofthe housing, while cover plate 215 c includes a pair of hinge members ortabs 217 b extending therefrom and generally correspondingly formed withthe hinge members 217 a of housing 215. The cover plate 215 c thus maybe hingedly or pivotally secured to the housing 215 of bracket 214 via apivot pin or axle member 217 c extending through hinge members 217 a and217 b. The cover plate 215 c may include clasps or snaps or locking tabs219 for snapping or otherwise securing cover plate 215 c in a closedorientation relative to housing 215.

As can be seen in FIG. 12, the upper portion 215 a of housing 215 mayextend over the cover plate 215 c such that the forward or outer portionof the upper portion 215 a may include projections 224, similar to theupper portion 15 a of housing 15 of bracket 14, discussed above. Capportion 218 thus may include the correspondingly formed recesses (notshown in FIGS. 12 and 13) for receiving projections 224, as discussedabove.

As also shown in FIG. 12, the illumination source 234 may be attached toor incorporated into a circuit board 235, which may be mounted to orpositioned at and within the housing 215 of bracket 214. Circuit board235 may include a control or circuitry for activating/deactivatingillumination source 234, such as in response to the surrounding lightingconditions or the like, such as described above. The cover plate 215 cmay receive a transparent or partially transparent panel 236 forillumination from illumination source 234 to pass through to illuminatethe handle and/or to back light an icon or indicia on the panel, asdiscussed above. As can be seen in FIG. 12, the panel 236 may beremovably attached to the cover plate 215 c to allow the transparentpanel to be selectably attached or replaced as desired.

Therefore, the present invention provides a handle assembly thatsubstantially locks or retains the handle or handrail in either an inuse or storage position relative to the brackets secured to the sidewall or surface of a vehicle. The projections and recesses of thebracket and cap portions limit or substantially preclude pivotalmovement of the cap portions and the handle unless the handle is firstraised upward or otherwise moved along the pivot axis to entirelydisengage the rejections from the recesses. The substantially flatengaging walls or faces of the projections and recesses thus may limitor substantially preclude the cap portion from sliding upward anddisengaging from the projections of the bracket when the handle ispushed toward one side or the other about the pivot axis without firstraising the handle upward to disengage the projections from therecesses. The handle assembly of the present invention thus provides asturdy and robust handrail that a person may grasp and lean against andpush, without fear of the handle disengaging from the bracket andfolding to the side of the vehicle as the person is entering or exitingthe vehicle. The present invention thus provides a safe handle assemblythat may limit or substantially preclude inadvertent or accidentalfolding or pivoting of the handrail. The present invention also providesfor an illumination source to illuminate at least a portion of thehandle during night time or darkened conditions to assist a person inusing the handrail assembly in such conditions. The illumination sourcemay back light an icon or indicia associated with the handle assemblymanufacturer or with the vehicle manufacturer or the like.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims, as according to the principles of patent law.

1. A handle assembly for mounting to a surface of a vehicle comprising:a handrail, formed of a tubular member having a curved cross section,said handrail having an end cap at opposite ends of said handrail, saidend caps being joined with said tubular member; and a pair of brackets,each of said end caps being selectively engagable with a respective oneof said brackets in first and second positions relative to saidbrackets, said handrail being selectively movable to disengage said endcaps from said brackets, said handrail being pivotable when said endcaps are disengaged from said brackets to move said end caps betweensaid first position, where said handrail is positioned along the surfaceof the vehicle, and said second position, where said handrail extendsoutward from the surface of the vehicle, one of (a) said end caps and(b) said brackets comprising at least one projection and the other ofsaid end caps and said brackets comprising at least one recess forreceiving said at least one projection when said end caps are engagedwith said brackets in one of said first and second positions, said endcaps being substantially positively retained relative to said bracketswhen said end caps are engaged with said brackets in said first orsecond position.
 2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, saidhandrail comprises a generally cylindrical handrail and said end capcomprises a plastic end cap secured at an end of said handrail.
 3. Thehandle assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one projectioncomprises at least one wall and said at least one recess comprises atleast one wall, said walls being configured to engage one another topositively retain said end caps in said first or second positionrelative to said brackets.
 4. The handle assembly of claim 3, whereinsaid handrail is movable along a pivot axis to disengage said walls. 5.The handle assembly of claim 3, wherein said walls are orientedsubstantially parallel to a pivot axis of said handle assembly.
 6. Thehandle assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one projection andsaid at least one recess are correspondingly formed to limit movement ofsaid end caps relative to said brackets when said end caps are in one ofsaid first and second positions.
 7. The handle assembly of claim 6,wherein said handrail is movable along a pivot axis to disengage said atleast one projection from said at least one recess, said handrail beingpivotable about said pivot axis between said first and second positionswhen said at least one projection is disengaged from said at least onerecess.
 8. The handle assembly of claim 7 including a pivot pinextending at least partially through a respective one of said bracketsand a respective one of said end caps and defining said pivot axis. 9.The handle assembly of claim 8 including a biasing member along saidpivot pin that biases said respective end cap toward engagement withsaid respective bracket.
 10. The handle assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid one of said end caps and said brackets comprises a plurality ofprojections and the other of said end caps and said brackets comprises aplurality of recesses for receiving respective ones of said projectionswhen said end caps are in one of said first and second positions. 11.The handle assembly of claim 1 including at least one illuminationsource that is operable to illuminate at least a portion of said handleassembly.
 12. The handle assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least oneillumination source is positioned at at least one of said brackets andis operable to direct illumination through an at least partiallytransparent panel of said at least one of said brackets.
 13. A handleassembly for mounting to a surface of a vehicle comprising: a handrail,formed of a tubular member having a curved cross section, said handrailhaving an end cap joined with said tubular member; and a bracket, saidend cap being selectively engagable with said bracket in first andsecond positions relative to said bracket, said handrail beingselectively movable to disengage said end cap from said bracket, saidhandrail being pivotable when said end cap is disengaged from saidbracket to move said end cap between said first position, where saidhandrail is positioned along the surface of the vehicle, and said secondposition, where said handrail extends outward from the surface of thevehicle, said end cap being substantially positively retained relativeto said bracket when said end cap is engaged with said bracket in saidfirst or second position, wherein said bracket includes a housing and acover panel, said cover panel being pivotable about a hinge portion ofsaid housing, said panel being operable to access at least one mountingfastener of said handle assembly.
 14. A handle assembly for mounting toa surface of vehicle comprising: a handrail having an end portion, saidend portion having a first engaging face; and a bracket mountable to thesurface of the vehicle, said handrail being pivotable relative to saidbracket about a pivot axis, said bracket having a second engaging face,said second engaging face being substantially fixed relative to thevehicle when said bracket is mounted to the surface of the vehicle saidfirst and second engaging faces being selectively engagable in first orsecond positions, said handrail being selectively movable to disengagesaid first engaging face from said second engaging face and beingpivotable about said pivot axis when said first and second engagingfaces are disengaged to move said end portion between said firstposition, where said handrail is positioned along the surface of thevehicle, and said second position, where said handrail extends outwardfrom the surface of the vehicle, said first and second engaging facesbeing substantially parallel to said pivot axis to limit pivotalmovement of said handrail relative to said bracket when said engagingfaces are engaged in one of said first and second positions, wherein oneof said end portion and said bracket comprises a plurality ofprojections and the other of said end portion and said bracket comprisesa plurality of recesses for receiving respective ones of saidprojections when said end portion is in one of said first and secondpositions, said projections and said recesses comprising said engagingfaces.
 15. The handle assembly of claim 14, wherein one of said endportion and said bracket comprises at least one projection and the otherof said end portion and said bracket comprises at least one recess forreceiving said at least one projection, said at least one projection andsaid at least one recess comprising said engaging faces.
 16. The handleassembly of claim 15, wherein said handrail is movable along said pivotaxis to disengage said at least one projection from said at least onerecess.
 17. The handle assembly of claim 16 including a biasing memberthat biases said end portion toward engagement with said bracket. 18.The handle assembly of claim 14 including at least one illuminationsource that is operable to illuminate at least a portion of said handleassembly.
 19. The handle assembly of claim 18, wherein said at least oneillumination source is positioned at said bracket and is operable todirect illumination, through an at least partially transparent panel ofsaid bracket.
 20. A handle assembly for mounting to a surface of avehicle comprising: a handrail, said handrail comprising a generallycylindrical handrail and an end portion; a cap portion positioned atsaid end portion of said handrail, said cap portion having at least onefirst engaging face; and a bracket, said handrail being pivotablerelative to said bracket about a pivot axis, said bracket having atleast one second engaging face, said first and second engaging facesbeing selectively engagable when said handrail is in first or secondpositions, said handrail being selectively movable relative to saidbracket to disengage said first engaging face from said second engagingface and being pivotable about said pivot axis when said first andsecond engaging faces are disengaged to move said handrail between saidfirst position, where said handrail is positioned along the surface ofthe vehicle, and said second position, where said handrail extendsoutward from the surface of the vehicle, said first and second engagingfaces being generally parallel to said pivot axis to substantially limitmovement of said handrail relative to said bracket when said engagingfaces are engaged, said handrail being movable along said pivot axis todisengage said engaging faces, wherein one of said cap portion and saidbracket comprises a plurality of projections and the other of said capportion and said bracket comprises a plurality of recesses for receivingrespective ones of said projections when said handrail is in one of saidfirst and second positions, said projections and said recessescomprising said engaging faces.
 21. The handle assembly of claim 20,wherein one of said cap portion and said bracket comprises at least oneprojection and the other of said cap portion and said bracket comprisesat least one recess for receiving said at least one projection when saidengaging faces are engaged, said projection and said recess definingsaid engaging faces.
 22. The handle assembly of claim 21 including abiasing member that biases said at least one projection towardengagement with said at least one recess.
 23. The handle assembly ofclaim 20, wherein said cap portion comprises a plastic cap portion. 24.The handle assembly of claim 20 including at least one illuminationsource that is operable to illuminate at least a portion of said handleassembly.
 25. The handle assembly of claim 24, wherein said at least oneillumination source is positioned at said bracket and is operable todirect illumination through an at least partially transparent panel ofsaid bracket.
 26. A handle assembly for mounting to a surface of avehicle comprising: a handrail, said handrail comprising a generallycylindrical handrail and an end portion; a cap portion positioned atsaid end portion of said handrail, said cap portion having at least onefirst engaging face; and a bracket, said handrail being pivotablerelative to said bracket about a pivot axis, said bracket having atleast one second engaging face, said first and second engaging facesbeing selectively engagable when said handrail is in first or secondpositions, said handrail being selectively movable relative to saidbracket to disengage said first engaging face from said second engagingface and being pivotable about said pivot axis when said first andsecond engaging faces are disengaged to move said handrail between saidfirst position, where said handrail is positioned along the surface ofthe vehicle, and said second position, where said handrail extendsoutward from the surface of the vehicle, said first and second engagingfaces being generally parallel to said pivot axis to substantially limitmovement (if said handrail relative to said bracket when said engagingfaces are engaged, said handrail being movable along said pivot axis todisengage said engaging faces; and at least one illumination source thatis operable to illuminate at least a portion of said handle assembly,said at least one illumination source being positioned at said bracketand operable to direct illumination through an at least partiallytransparent panel of said bracket, wherein said at least partiallytransparent panel is back lit by said illumination source to illuminatean image on said at least partially transparent panel.
 27. A handleassembly for mounting to a surface of a vehicle comprising: a handrail,said handrail comprising a generally cylindrical handrail and an endportion; a cap portion positioned at said end portion of said handrail,said cap portion having at least one first engaging face; and a bracket,said handrail being pivotable relative to said bracket about a pivotaxis, said bracket having at least one second engaging face, said firstand second engaging faces being selectively engagable when said handrailis in first or second positions, said handrail being selectively movablerelative to said bracket to disengage said first engaging face from saidsecond engaging face and being pivotable about said pivot axis when saidfirst and second engaging faces are disengaged to move said handrailbetween said first position, where said handrail is positioned along thesurface of the vehicle, and said second position, where said handrailextends outward from the surface of the vehicle, said first and secondengaging faces being generally parallel to said pivot axis tosubstantially limit movement of said handrail relative to said bracketwhen said engaging faces are engaged, said handrail being movable alongsaid pivot axis to disengage said engaging faces, wherein said bracketincludes a housing and a cover panel, said cover panel being pivotableabout a hinge portion relative to said bracket housing, said cover panelbeing openable to access at least one mounting fastener of said handleassembly.
 28. A handle assembly for mounting to a surface of a vehiclecomprising: a handrail having a cap portion at opposite ends thereof,each of said cap portions having at least one first engaging face; and apair of brackets, said handrail being pivotable relative to saidbrackets about a pivot axis, each of said brackets having at least onesecond engaging face, said first and second engaging faces beinggenerally parallel to said pivot axis to substantially limit movement ofsaid handrail relative to said brackets when said engaging faces areengaged, said first and second engaging faces being engaged when saidhandrail is in first or second positions, said handrail beingselectively movable relative to said brackets and generally along saidpivot axis to disengage said first engaging faces from said secondengaging faces and being pivotable about said pivot axis when said firstand second engaging faces are disengaged to move said handrail betweensaid first position, where said handrail is positioned along the surfaceof the vehicle, and said second position, where said handrail extendsoutward from the surface of the vehicle, wherein each of said bracketscomprises at least one projection and each of said cap portionscomprises at least one recess for receiving said at least one projectionwhen said engaging faces are engaged, said at least one projection andsaid at least one recess defining respective engaging faces.
 29. Thehandle assembly of claim 28 including a biasing member that biases saidat least one projection toward engagement with said at least one recess.30. The handle assembly of claim 28, wherein said cap portion comprisesa plastic cap portion.